As history tells, the 1940s were a decade that shaped American life. The country faced World War II, ration books, factory work, radio news, and families waiting for letters from loved ones who were overseas. By the end of the decade, the war was completely over, and people were starting fresh, and the first signs of the baby boom were starting to appear.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 40s in Massachusetts using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.
Keep reading to see if your name made the list.
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1 / 30Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,402
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#703 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#29 most common name)
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2 / 30Marie is a name of French origin meaning "star of the sea".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,521
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 67 (#667 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 57,511 (#47 most common name)
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3 / 30Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,646
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,285 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#31 most common name)
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4 / 30Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,682
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,285 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 53,092 (#52 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 30Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,887
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 249 (#232 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,483 (#40 most common name)
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6 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,904
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 127 (#442 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
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7 / 30Joanne is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,981
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 51,613 (#54 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
8 / 30Maureen is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "star of the sea".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,018
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 30,029 (#100 most common name)
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9 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,060
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 50 (#765 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
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10 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,240
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)
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11 / 30Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,435
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#36 most common name)
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12 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,472
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#708 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)
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13 / 30Elaine is a name of French origin meaning shining light.
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,614
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 83 (#581 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 60,072 (#45 most common name)
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14 / 30Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,083
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#828 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76,783 (#37 most common name)
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15 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,084
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#828 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
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16 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,422
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,471 (#21 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
17 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,912
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 686 (#81 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
18 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,994
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 686 (#81 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
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19 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,223
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,376 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,274
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,376 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
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21 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,959
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#621 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
22 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,758
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#948 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
23 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,905
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,376 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock
24 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,982
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,216 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
25 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,992
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 33 (#919 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
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26 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 11,672
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,376 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
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27 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 11,804
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
28 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 13,229
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#1,096 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
29 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 14,529
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#790 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
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30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Massachusetts
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 16,097
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 413 (#134 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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